Our Recent Guest Reviews

So peaceful but yet you still feel close to the town ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

​" We absolutely loved The Fernery for a friend stay-cation. Having 9 of us in our group made it difficult to find somewhere but we’re so glad we came across this place. Tucked away in the hills makes it so peaceful but yet you still feel close to the town. Easy walking distance into Ilfracombe, and perfect location to get to other beaches for surfing. Only complaint is that we wished we had booked to stay for longer!"Rosie Blyth, Sept 2019

Fantastic time in a well equipped modern house ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Firstly let me say our family had a fantastic time in a well equipped modern house with all facilities has described , we enjoyed a beautiful weeks weather and visited lots of many local beaches. The grandchildren could not have wished for better in the play room provided." The Dexter Family, August 2019

Suitable for all the family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

" We spent a great week at the Fernery. The accommodation is of a very high standard, light, airey and comfortable. The open style of the ground floor is ideal. With ages from 2 to 95 you can definitely say it is suitable for all the family. I would definitely recommend the Fernery as a base to explore the local North Devon area." Mark Arnold, July 2019

Beautiful house with great facilities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★​" Perfect for our group. The house is very well equipped, spacious and facilities of a very high standard." Diana Molloy, June 2019

​Brilliant house, lovely location ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Fernery was perfect for a family holiday. The house had everything you needed. The hot tub was a lovely addition and the kitchen living area was perfect for family cooking and dining. You can walk into Ilfracombe and it is in easy drive of both Ilfracombe and Woolacombe. Would definitely recommend staying here. Laura Neal, May 2019

Fantastic and well designed light space ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Fantastic and well designed light space to spend time in regardless of the weather outside. Within walking distance of Ilfracombe and with a helpful host on hand should you need anything. Top marks” David Keoshgerian, March 2019

The property itself is amazingly fitted out and one of the best, most beautiful houses.. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

" We spent a glorious few days down in Ilfracombe and found the Fernery owner Jonathan to be a really welcoming host, full of great local ideas. The house info provided made our trip, I think we did everything suggested to us which made for a lovely varied holiday! There is loads to do in the area for families and having the Fernery as a base was a real treat! The property itself is amazingly fitted out and one of the best sand mist beautiful houses we have stayed in..." Vanessa and family, Feb 2019

The Fernery was without a doubt our most enjoyable Christmas & most relaxing ever★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Just a quick note to say how much we all loved our Christmas at the Fernery. We've spent a fair few Christmases together with the same family group in some very characterful properties but the Fernery was without a doubt our most enjoyable and most relaxing ever. The huge open space lends itself superbly to all those special shared moments that Christmas is all about. It goes without saying that the styling, the top notch facilities and the excellent location were much appreciated by all. Thank you for making this all possible. Wishing you health and happiness for 2019." Dave, Kate, Mike and Soph

A stunning house in a gorgeous location - what a wonderful holiday! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"The house is just beautiful and so well laid out - the set up suited us perfectly with both adult sons and their girlfriends joining us. There is so much room in this house which allowed privacy as required, space when needed and a large enough sofa and living area for us all to come together for games and meals and films! We were welcomed with milk in the fridge and a cream tea all ready - this was wonderful and much appreciated.

We all enjoyed exploring the area and having lazy wanders into Ilfracombe along the path up to the reservoirs and trips into Barnstaple to hire bikes - all in all a fantastic week was had by all. I cannot recommend this property too highly - plus (the icing on the cake) when we did have a couple of queries about the house (eg rubbish collection) Jonathan replied to an email the same day meaning that any minor worries or concerns were sorted quickly - this was much appreciated and a welcome change!Book it - if you love peace and quiet and have a large group - it's fantastic." Caroline W, 27 October 2018

Wonderful week in a beautiful part of the world. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ " A Lovely home to stay in. We had an amazing stay at the Fernery. The house was beautiful and spacious. It was also well equipped - the kids (4 years old, 2 years old and 1 year old) were very excited to discover dinosaur toys to play with and we were pleased to discover children’s cutlery and crockery! The hot tub was a welcome treat at the end of the day too!

The area is beautiful! Watching the world go by at Ilfracombe harbour at sunset was stunning and there are plenty of things in the area to entertain the whole family." Joshua Senior and Email October 2018

We had the BEST week ever ★ ★ ★ ★ ★“We stayed at The Fernery at the beginning of July 2018 and had the BEST week ever. The property is beautiful, tastefully decorated, equipped with everything you could need (& more ), spacious and perfect for a large family. The property was perfectly clean. We all felt immediately at home. We enjoyed eating outside on the terrace every day and indulging in the hot tub too. The layout of the property means you have sun somewhere at every moment of the day ;-) We were treated to a week of perfect weather and due to the great location we explored lots of the fabulous local beaches, which we loved (Woolacombre, Croyde & Saunton Sands get a special mention) A fabulous property in a beautiful location. We'd definitely come back. Communication with the hosts was great. Jonathan was very helpful. The property also has a detailled information pack answering any questions you could have.” Simi C from Annecy, July 2018

This part of England is a pure gem ★ ★ ★ ★ ★​“This house is amazing, beautiful, well located and has everything to offer for a family to enjoy a relaxing and memorable stay in Devon. I would recommend this estate at any time. Contact with the host were smooth. Everything very clean and good quality. This part of England is a pure gem. ” Sveinbjörg, from Iceland Aug 2018

Home from home ambiance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★​​" The Fernery is the perfect holiday home for all the family with lots of space for adults and children. Its unique deisgn, and well appointed decoration with is "home from home ambiance" yet from the moment we arrived we started to relax in the beautiful, peaceful setting of the lush green valley, just minutes from amazing walks, and the UK's best beaches. The large well kept gardens, summer house and especially the private luxury hot tub were a really highlight, especially after a busy days out exploring gorgeous Ilfracombe, wonderful Woolacombe, and Exmoor. Theres so much to do nearby, we will definitely be coming back, and would not hesitate to recommend The Fernery to anyone who wants a week of luxury, fun and pure escape. Thanks you." Joanne M. 3 Aug 2018

Highly recommended ★ ★ ★ ★ ★​“Great house for a large family gathering or get together with 4 big b/rs. Lovely open plan lounge / kitchen. Outdoor jacuzzi just to cap a brilliant experience. Highly recommended. John & Helen”John, June 2018

The facilities were just fantastic ★ ★ ★ ★ ★"The house lived up to expectations. The facilities were just fantastic. We travelled with family and my young daughter 21 months and the toys, dvds and games provided were just great. The location was perfect for us. You could walk to local town even though we didn’t and Ilfracombe had lots of lovely places to eat and drink. The check in and out were smooth and we were very happy with the property!"Lucy G. 24 Jun 2018

We had a great time and made lots of wonderful memories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★​"My family joined my husband and I for our ruby wedding stay in your lovely property. It was everything we hoped it would be. The house is stunning and being able to open the bi- folding doors in the lovely weather was wonderful. It is well equipped with everything anyone could need. It would have been nice to have had a permanent BBQ but we managed. I can’t imagine anyone having anything to complain about. My daughters enjoyed the hot tub too. Thank you, we had a great time and made lots of wonderful memories."Jane O.3 Jun 2018

The perfect family getaway! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​"We stayed in The Fernery over New Years for four nights. We were three families with four children between us. The standard of the house is exceptionally high and the style and decor of the house is very tasteful and stylish. Beds are extremely comfortable and bedding was of excellent quality and plentiful. The kitchen is well stocked with cooking equipment and utensils, and we were delighted with our welcome gift from the owners which was a lovely surprise. The hot tub is very high quality and easy and an extra luxurious feel to our stay.Communication and transactions are prompt and efficient with the owner which makes life so much easier when booking. We have no negative comments to add, the house was perfect for our needs and hope to return in the future!"The Austwick Family

Birthday celebrations ★ ★ ★ ★ ★"We had a week of birthday celebrations, the property had a brilliant layout, the kitchen and dining area are very good, every thing about the property enabled us all to have a most enjoyable week" Tony B. 22 Jan 2018

Impressive, wow factor very comfortable ! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" As a group of friends we stayed at the Ferney. We had viewed the property on the website and upon arriving It didn't disappoint and the WOW factor was met! Jonathan and his family provide a home from home, attention to detail in the decor and every thing you could possibly need. It's a perfect home with plenty of space for couples away for a weekend. We had a fantastic weekend and would highly recommend this property and the use of the hot tub!!! Especially after the long walks in the surrounding area. Thanks again Jonathan for all your help and advice during the booking process. We took your recommendation on a local restaurant of the Quay and it again didn't disappoint. I would say to anyone though going out of season book a restaurant in advance. As many are small so get booked up quickly and some close for the winter season, so there wasn't much to choose from - so plan in advance!" Vicki B, 27 Nov 2017

Lovely venue to spend time with your family! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​​​"We had a fantastic time at The Fernery celebrating a special birthday. What a lovely venue to spend time with your family! The house was lovely, clean and inviting, the hot tub was the extra special touch. Lovely welcome cream tea awaiting us when we arrived, such a lovely gesture. We would definitely recommend booking The Fernery and we will definitely be looking to book again in the future." T Clark, Oct 2017

Wow! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​"We chose The Fernery as our accommodation for our wedding party. First Impressions from pulling up onto the drive was WOW! The building, landscaping and the surrounding area were stunning. Stepping inside the WOW factor continued, the attention to detail and decor was excellent and the small touches like scones & coffee made it feel homely and inviting. We had a fantastic week here and would highly recommend getting the hot tub!! We look forward to staying again sometime in the future."Mr & Mrs Artrey August 2017

5 Star ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​​"The house was really fabulous , it was every bit as good as it looked on the photos ! It was so spacious and light , we had lots of room and space for all 3 couples ,baby and 2 dogs . We loved the bifold doors and the decking area was wonderful - it was just a shame the weather didn't let us use it much !! Hot tub was super and was such a 'pick me up ' when tired ! The decor is super and really enjoyed looking at all the pictures and ornaments . The kitchen is very well equipped and it was a lovely touch to have scones , preserve and clotted cream left for our arrival ! It is such a comfortable and lovely house ! The only slight grumble was that although there were 3 TVs we could only get the living area one to have television programmes on ! Maybe some instructions left would help ? With the weather being very mixed ,occasionally it would have been nice to have made use of them . However , the property is very much a '5 star 'and we look forward to returning to it ."Shelagh C. 27 Jun 2017

Fabulous! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" Everything we dreamt of and more! An amazing place for my daughters wedding party stay! Housekeepers Pete and Angie couldn't have been more helpful! We will remember our stay here forever!|" Janet B,, 11 Apr 2017

Highly Recommended ! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ " Having stayed here to celebrate our mothers up coming birthday, we found The Fernery was a lovely place for the family to be together and enjoy each other's company, but there is also an abundance of space if you want to relax with a book or two. Lovely views, and the added bonus of the hot tub which the children loved! Highly recommend The Fernery to all." James L, 14 Apr 2017

Just simply a fantastic house ! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" A really great property with loads of space and the highlight was the hot tub ! A fantastic property for groups of friends or families." Tark M, 12 May 2017

Modern, spacious house, a great place to relax! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" The Fernery provides an ideal base to explore the beautiful coastline which surrounds Ilfracombe. The house is light, spacious and clean, with plenty of room to relax, with the added bonus of a fantastic hot tub! From the house, we walked along the coastal path, through Lee bay to Woolacombe, a lovely walk with the promise of a pint or ice cream at the end!" Barnaby S,12 May 2017

Fantastic family/group accommodation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" Communication great throughout booking . Brilliant spotless house .only 5min drive from shops . Ideal for family holidays, suitable for all generations. Would highly recommend this property. Quoting some reactions as people walked through the door - wow, amazing, can we move in!!! Thank you very much ." Kay S, 29 May 2017

Absolutely Fantastic ! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The property was absolutely fantastic. we all had an amazing time. enough space for three separate families with a couple of kids who loved the place." Lisa B., 18 Jun 2017

The Perfect accommodation for our Wedding Celebrations ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​​​" We are a week back from a beautiful 5 days at the fernery for a special occasion and wedding celebrations. We had the perfect weather to make full use of every part of the property. The gardens were wonderful and each had a different feel. The top garden was peaceful with beatiful views and a lovely spot to sit with friends and laze in the sunshine and let the world go by. The hot tub area was a fun area which wasnt overlooked and great fun. It was a clean and a lovely relaxing spot.

The front patio of the house was perfect for sunny breakfasts and sundowners after a long hard day. The house itself is very socialble with one big main room and the bifolding doors that open out to the patio increase the space so much to again wonderful views. Jonathan (owner) and Angie (housekeeper) and her husband were delightful. Nothing was too much trouble and just so welcoming. We had a fabulous time and cannot wait to revisit. The log fire is beautiful and this property works come rain or shine for larger groups of friends/family. The properties location is ideal, lovely walks along the old railway line (and more) are right on the doorstep and so many lovely places to eat out and keep you entertained in the day. We cannot recommend highly enough.

​Parking is plentiful with 2 inside the garage and one outside and there is amble on road parking also. Just such a lovely time here had by all. And beds that are comfortable....thats never the case when you rent somewhere! The attention to detail is just lovely and real value for money for the space you get. This review simply doesnt express just how perfect the fernery and the whole experience was. Thank you Jonathan and team we are so glad we found this property!" The Cross & Morrison Families, May 2016

A Dutch family’s review ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" The Fernery is an absolute pearl when it comes to holiday cottages. A wonderfully architected villa on the edge of Ilfracombe, situated in the idyllic England's countryside near the most beautiful coastal shore’s we’ve ever seen.

A stay never to forget. Large, spacious, modern-styled house, with all the facilities you could wish for. The kids loved the play-room and terraced garden. Luckily the weather was great and we were able to explore the surroundings to the fullest.

A definite must-see is Lynton & Lynmouth, Porlock, Watermeet, Lee a small village just around the corner and most of all the South West Coastal path part of which starts not far from the Fernery. The most amazing sights, sounds and picknicks with famous Devon scones and clotted cream.

For a great Sunday Lunch we went to 'The Culbone', a small inn/pub on the edge of Exmoor which can be found on Trip advisor. We are grateful to have stayed here with our family. Thanks to Pete and Angie for their help when needed and to Jonathan for making it possible for us to stay in this great house." The Postma Family , April 2016

Fabulous Easter Break ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “We had a fabulous week staying at The Fernery. The spacious rooms were beautifully and thoughtfully decorated and the layout, perfect for our family and friends (and dog!). Over Easter, the weather can be mixed (as it was for our stay) and the underfloor heating was a joy when we came in from our blustery walks on the beach. The area is beautiful; the coastline varied and breathtaking in places and Jonathan was very helpful in giving us his 'Top Tips' for places to visit; the best beaches, a great pub recommendation and there is also plenty of info. to peruse in the information folder at the house. Another of our favourites was the hot tub and the teenagers learnt to surf at Croyde Bay - amazing surf! We'd love to return...”The Hoare family, Easter 2016

Great base for exploring North devon and Cornwall ★ ★ ★ ★ ​“We had a wonderful stay at The Fernery. The house met all our expectations and offered a really comfortable stay for our family. The house is very spacious yet very cosy all at the same time. All the finishing touches to the property make it feel very homely. Ilfracombe is a beautiful town and is a great base to explore North Devon and we ventured down to explore parts of Cornwall. The beaches at Woolacombe and Croyde are just a short drive away. Jonathan was a pleasure to deal with and the information on the property and local area was very helpful. You really do have to see this wonderful house! ”The Brady family, March 2016

100% recommendation! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​“This was a wonderful property and is just as represented in the pictures on the site. Jonathan was super efficient to deal with and everything went to plan. This property is very large with all rooms being spacious and there is plenty of outside space so even with a large family you would never feel cramped. Nearby beaches and restaurants are all great Overall I would give this property a 100% recommendation”The Owers family, February 2016

Fantastic Christmas Break ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​“We have just spent a fantastic 5 days at the Fernery in Devon just before Christmas with our 3 children and dog. Jonathan and Heidi were the perfect hosts and made the trip run very smoothly indeed. The house itself is absolutely stunning and decorated to a very high standard with lots of attention to detail. It was fully equipped for all our needs and our children loved playing in the lovely garden. We had a great time exploring Ilfracombe and the surrounding areas. We loved the sandy beaches nearby especially Croyde and Woolacombe bay. We would highly recommend The Fernery to anyone. Thank you Jonathan and Heidi for letting us stay in your wonderful home!”The McGlynn Family, December 2015

Great for teenagers and toddies! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ " We just wanted to say that my family enjoyed a fantastic week at your beautiful house. Space, comfort, all the mod cons, and a great music and DVD film selection kept us all entertained, particularly the 3 teenage boys. The weather was a mixed bag but still plenty of sunshine. Late afternoons in the private hot tub were a joy. With the Black Sands Bistro, The Quay restaurant, the Rock Inn and the Watersmeet Hotel Bistro nearby, you also couldn't ask for better food and service. I am sure we will return sometime soon."​The Akim Family, April 2016

Cosy Xmas break ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​" We spent a fantastic 5 days at the Fernery in Devon just before Christmas with our 3 children and dog. Jonathan and Heidi were the perfect hosts and made the trip run very smoothly indeed. The house itself was absolutely stunning and decorated to a very high standard with lots of attention to detail. It was fully equipped for all our needs and our children loved playing in the lovely garden. We had a great time exploring Ilfracombe and the surrounding areas. We loved the sandy beaches nearby especially Croyde and Woolacombe bay. We would highly recommend The Fernery to anyone. Thank you Jonathan and Heidi for letting us stay in your wonderful home!" The Brady Family, January 2016

Probably the best holiday accommodation in North Devon? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​“ The Fernery, was amazing and by far the best holiday accommodation I have stayed in. The open kitchen and living room area with the high ceiling worked very well and was surprisingly very comfortable and warm. I was particularly impressed with the vast collection of DVD's available to watch and the music collection. The kitchen was very clean and had all the equipment we required.

The four bedrooms again were very clean and spacious and comfortable and it was a good treat to have an ensuite for each. The kids loved the fact that they had their own space in the mezzanine where they had a vast choice of toys to play with and again a good choice of kids DVD movies.

Unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to use the hot tub as we had a busy itinerary, fingers crossed next time!..Overall, the entire party had a very good time and large part of this was due to the accommodation.”The Versy Family, July 2015

Woolacombe is the Uk's no 1 beach ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​​"We had a lovely weeks holiday & thought the location & house were great.The Fernery is a lovely well equipped spacious holiday home in a convenient location for Ilfracombe & Woolacombe. Would recommend a walk from Lynmouth to Watersmeet for a cream tea, obviously Woolacombe beach is a must & if you want a beautiful meal, try booking a table at The Rock at Georgeham." The Marsden Family, (Aug 2015)

Great for young children ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​“ Thank you for our August week at The Fernery. The Fernery is a beautiful home- it’s like a holiday let that feels like a home- perfect! This was our first holiday with young children, and the were accommodated perfectly. Thank you.”The Smith Family, August 2015

A lifetime of memories! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ​​“Thank you for lovely holiday at this amazing home, which has created a lifetime of memories for our family. We have had a great time exploring local attractions, and especially the famous Woolacombe Beach.”The Bahuta Family, August 2015